when to put chicks outside??

[kaileen20]

I have 8 pullets and they are 10 weeks old and I put them outside from being in our garage with their heating lamp 3 weeks ago and so 2 days ago I took the heating lamp out of their coop but have a tarp and blanket Over their coop, they seem to be fine since they are fully feathered, but tonight I walked outside and it was a little warm out but it was lightly raining and they where huddled On the hay stack in the rain instead of in their coop, is that normal??? I guess in just being paranoid of loosing them but will they be okay during the winter without the heating lamp? Did I make the right decision of removing it? I make sure their coop is fully protected from the wind and rain, plus they are fully feathered, just need peace of mind! Thank you!

 

[fried green eggs]

Is it Dark outside and they are still outside of the coop huddled in the rain?

 

[kaileen20]

Yea they are, they where huddled next to the hay stack? That's the first time I've ever seen them do that..

 

[Dry Creek Ranch]

I always lock the chickens in their coop for a week before letting them out. This way they have adjusted to their new home, found their favorite spot on the roost, and established their pecking order. I have a night light in my coop but no heat lamp. Just my opinion but a heat lamp can cause birds to fight over who gets to be directly underneath it and is a good way to burn down your coop. In warm weather chickens will roost further apart and in cold weather they will roost closer together.

I learned this the hard way. I have one batch of chickens that to this day roost outside the coop (even in the rain and snow). I only locked them in the coop one night when I first moved them from the brooder. All my other chickens were locked in for a week and roost in the coops at night.